Your Daily Devotional for August 31, 2006

 

August 31, 2006

 

Taking Inventory

by Dr. Paul Chappell

  

“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”

 

Lamentations 3:40-41

 

 Have you ever been looking for something but didn’t know where to find it? Maybe you lost your keys, or maybe you couldn’t find a certain item at a store. Wouldn’t it be much more helpful if you had someone with you who knew where that certain item was? They could point you in the right direction and you could be on your way!

 

Just as you may not be able to find something if you do not know where it is, it is hard to confess a sin in your life if you do not know that it is there. That is why we must come before Him and ask Him to reveal any sin that we might have in our life. Psalm 26:2 says, “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.”

 

We also need to let God show us what needs we have. We need to allow Him to show us areas of our lives in which we need to grow. None of us are perfect and we can all grow more like Christ; however, we can sometimes become complacent and think we are doing fine. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Word of God can show us our true motives and the real desires of our heart whether they be good or evil.

 

Sometimes it helps to just sit down alone with God and let Him take inventory of your life. Be totally honest and open with Him and let Him try your heart. Write down which areas you believe you are struggling with and how you can help correct them. Once God shows you what areas you need to fix, don’t just be content with knowing the problem! Is it enough if a man goes to the doctor and finds out he has cancer and does nothing about it? No! He needs to take steps to treat his disease and to help him live. Just as we would try to fix a physical problem, we need to seek to fix our spiritual problems.

 

The story was told of a well-known evangelist who had a man approach him at a particular church after he had spoken on confessing sin. The man told the evangelist that he didn’t know what to really confess at the invitation. The evangelist said, “Just guess.” Later the man saw the evangelist and said, “I did what you said and I guessed right the very first time!”

 

Friend, God knows your heart and He wants to reveal it to you! As Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” We cannot see the true condition of our heart! We are fooled by our outward appearance, but God knows our inner being. Take time to sit down with God today and let Him take inventory of your heart. Let Him show you what needs to be done to draw closer to Him. Then, act upon it! Take steps to renew your daily walk with Him.

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1

Your Daily Devotional for August 30, 2006

 

August 30, 2006

 

Spiritual Direction

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.”

 

Mark 14:66-72

 

We see in this passage of Scripture what was going on behind the scenes during Jesus’ trial. Peter had sneaked into a back room of Jesus’ trial and was anxiously awaiting its outcome. Soon, people began to recognize him as being one of Jesus’ disciples. He quickly denied these claims and persisted in denying Christ. Only after the cock crowed did he realize that what Jesus said had come true.

 

Peter’s tongue often got him into trouble, as we see in these verses. Because of his fear of what men might have done to him, he rejected Christ as his Lord. Peter’s denial showed his lack of spiritual direction.

 

Have you ever been lacking in direction for your life? Do you ever doubt God’s presence in your life because you cannot see Him working? Just as Peter began to turn from God when he became pressured by the world, all it takes for some Christians to turn from God is a little confusion.

 

We need spiritual direction in our lives and this spiritual direction comes from the Bible. The Bible is the map to our life. The Christian life is more like a GPS system than like Mapquest. Mapquest gives you all the turns and mileage before you start your journey. A GPS system only tells you the next step to take, and if it doesn’t tell you to turn then you know you are supposed to be doing the same thing you’re already doing. God only gives us one step at a time. He doesn’t let you immediately see who you will marry, where you will serve, or how He will use you! He wants you to trust Him enough to follow Him by faith.

 

The Bible reveals to us God’s will for our lives. How are we supposed to know which way to go if we don’t consult our map? Just as it would be foolish to start out on a trip without any directions, so it would be foolish to live the Christian life without reading the Bible. We sometimes get frustrated and confused because we want to see the next step of our lives, but God wants us to just trust Him for directions.

 

Are you frustrated in knowing what God wants you to do next? Do you get discouraged by not knowing what lies ahead for you? God saved you so don’t you think He will take care of you? Simply trust that God knows the right time and place to reveal His will to you. Don’t get frustrated or discouraged! Go to His Word for the spiritual direction you need in your life!

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1

Your Daily Devotional for August 29, 2006

 

August 29, 2006

 

Road Narrows

by Dr. Paul Chappell

  

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

 

Matthew 7:13-14

 

When we approach Matthew chapter 7, we must remember that Jesus is concluding His Sermon on the Mount. Among the Jewish listeners who heard this sermon were two groups of people—the Scribes and the Pharisees. These religious leaders knew all the “language” of religion but they were missing the actual way of salvation. You see, if anyone wants to enter into a relationship with God, they are going to see a sign that reads “Road Narrows.”

 

We must realize that not only is the road narrow that leads to Christ, but broad is the road that leads to destruction. When you choose to serve God and take the narrow road, there is going to be resistance from those around you. The broad road looks easy and pain-free but the end is death. Do not be discouraged or fooled by the way of the world. It may look like they are living a carefree life of freedom, but in reality, they are growing closer to eternal separation from God.

 

Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Many people are trying to broaden the narrow road to include them and their sin. A Baptist missionary recently attended a new-age seminar in North Carolina called “Life enrichment Expo.” He asked a new age philosopher, “When you die, what will you say to God when He asks you, ‘Why should I let you into my Heaven?’” The new age proponent said, “I am god, and I would never ask myself that question.”

 

John 14:6 says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The devil will use any way possible to get you to go to the broad road. Many people believe that there are many roads to get to Heaven, but Jesus says that He is the only way, and He also calls anyone who contradicts this a thief and a robber in John 10:1: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

 

Do not be fooled by the many different ways the devil tries to attract you to the broad road. One reason that you might find yourself attracted to the ways of this world is because your focus is shifted. Our focus should be set straight ahead of us on Jesus. He is at the end of our road calling us to come to Him. Don’t look at those around you and compare how hard your road is! Look to Jesus and compare what He did for you and what you are doing for Him.

 

Do you find yourself looking at those around you and comparing yourself to them? Do you find yourself wishing your road were easier? Just remember that Jesus walked the narrow road when He came and died for you! Even though the narrow road may be difficult, Christ promises to help you along the way. Reset your focus on Jesus and recommit yourself to continuing down the narrow road with His help.

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1

Your Daily Devotional for August 28, 2006

 

August 28, 2006

 

Staying Focused

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

 

Philippians 4:13

Golf professional Arnold Palmer recalls a lesson about overconfidence: “It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape. As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, ‘Congratulations.’ I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus. On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters.”

When life gets overwhelming, it is hard to stay focused. Sometimes, we don’t even realize we have lost focus on what really matters! What are you focused on? Do you seek to please God in all that you do? Is your main goal throughout the day to serve and honor Him?

 

We must not think we need to stay focused on Him in our own strength, because we will never be able to do it, but God is good in providing help for us! He has an unlimited source of power that He offers His children if we ask! Matthew 21:22 says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” God promises that whatever we ask of Him, if we believe, He will give it to us! What a great promise!

 

We know we need God’s power to stay focused on Him, but where do we get that power? We get it through studying and memorizing His Word. By doing this, we can fight off temptations to stray from being focused on Him. Philippians 4:8-9 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” We must focus on His Word to help keep our lives lined up with His will for us.

 

We also must focus on doing good and not just merely being good. Galatians 5:16 says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Just trying to be a good person is frustrating because our sin nature makes it impossible to be good on our own. We must also be doing good from a sincere heart and serving the Lord if we hope to stay focused on Him.

 

It may be difficult to stay focused throughout the day, but if we remember to ask God for His power, study His Word, and continually serve Him, He will help us. God wants us to stay focused on Him so He provided the resources necessary! All we must do is take His help and use it in our lives! What are you focusing on today? Do you need to change your focus back to Him?

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1

Your Daily Devotional for August 27, 2006

 

August 27, 2006

 

Spiritual Defect

by Dr. Paul Chappell

  

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

 

Romans 5:12

 

Have you ever bought something that didn’t work properly, because it had a defect? It is such a hassle to have to take it back to the store, stand in the long line at customer service, and then get your money back. When we were born, we were created with a spiritual defect.

 

Because Adam sinned in the garden, we inherited his sin nature. No one had to teach you how to sin; it comes naturally to you! When my children were younger, my wife and I did not sit them down and teach them how to lie, hit, fight, and cry! They came up with those acts on their own.

 

Because of this spiritual defect, our decision-making becomes more difficult. It is hard to make decisions because we have a flesh that wants to do wrong. So if we have a spiritual defect and it is difficult to make right decisions, how do we know which choices to make?

 

Once you are saved, God gives you the Holy Spirit who lives inside you. If you think about it, He is like your own personal assistant! He is always there for you and will help you when you need Him! I am not saying that He is your servant, but the Holy Spirit does help you when you need Him. Whenever there is a hard decision to make, the Holy Spirit has the right answer and He wants to help you choose the right path!

 

Why is making the right choice so important? Choices can change your life, even if it’s only one choice! Once a choice is made, it is easier to be repeated, and once that choice has been repeated a few times, it becomes a habit. Habits are hard to break, and if it is a sinful habit, it can lead to dangerous consequences. How do you avoid heartache and pain? By making the right choice the very first time.

 

It is not enough to merely know that the Holy Spirit is there to help you make the right choice. You must choose to take His advice. If I were to offer you a bottle of water when you were thirsty, your thirst wouldn’t be quenched until you actually took that bottle and drank the water! So it is with the Holy Spirit. If you do not ask for His advice and then heed it, you are left to trust your spiritual defect to help you make that decision.

 

We all have major decisions to make in our life, but even the small ones are important to God. What decisions do you need to make today? Wouldn’t it be nice to know that you could make the right decision and not have to worry about it? God has the answer and He wants you to consult Him about it! Don’t trust your spiritual defect. Take time today to meet with God and tell Him what decisions you need help with. He is waiting to help you right now!

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1

Your Daily Devotional for August 26, 2006

 

August 26, 2006

 

Change Is Good

by Dr. Paul Chappell

  

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

 

Romans 12:1-2

 

Once you were saved, things changed in your life. Your old ways were lost and new ways were adopted. But as time goes by, the devil can try to sneak some of those old ways back into your life. What can you do when this happens? You can submit to God’s changing process.

 

No one likes change but it is necessary in becoming more like Christ. First, you must present yourself to God. Preceding Romans 12 were several chapters on the doctrine of salvation. Based upon the mercy of the Lord, Paul challenges us to present ourselves to the Lord or to yield our lives to the Lord. We must come to God daily and give Him our life. Once He has our life, He can work and change us to become more like Him.

 

Next, we must be transformed by the Lord. The word transformed in verse 2 means “metamorphosis.” Just as a caterpillar is completely changed into a different insect, we must be changed into a totally different person by God’s power. Ephesians 4:23 says, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;”

 

Our thoughts are the autopilot of our life. They control what we do as we go throughout our day. If they are not lined up with God and His will for our life, we are headed for a crash. We must present our thoughts to Him every day as well. When God holds your thoughts, it will be easy to find the path He wants you to take.

 

Don’t be discouraged if you struggle with change. It is not a natural thing to be constantly changing and readjusting our lives. If you fail one day, claim God’s promise in Lamentations 3:22-23, “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” God’s mercies are new every morning! We must focus on having victory in our life day by day. Not only is our God loving, He also is forgiving!

 

Take some time right now and make a list. Write out the areas in your life that you think you need to change. Write down how you will change them. Then, take that list to God and ask Him if He would like to add any more areas of your life on the list to be changed. As you come to Him daily with that list, you will be more aware of what areas you need to work on and will be more able to change because of His power.

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1

Your Daily Devotional for August 24, 2006

 

August 24, 2006

 

A Duracell Family

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;”

 

Joshua 24:14-16

 

One of our goals at Lancaster Baptist Church is to help families. During the past twenty years of ministry, I have had the privilege of serving and working with hundreds of families. While every home is special to God, I have been able to distinguish a few different types of homes.

 

First, there is the Duracell family. They just keep going and going and going. They persist through hard times and easy times. They are characterized by children who love their parents and who love spending time with them. Also, the husband and wife are not only in tune with each other, but they are in tune with God.  Of course, they are not perfect.  They have their share of struggles and arguments, but this type of family is founded on the principles of God’s Word.

 

The next is the generic brand family. The average family in America today, the generic, is slowly dimming and slowly failing with every passing day. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish between the two, but they eventually show themselves and you can tell them apart.

 

You can sometimes tell through a tone of voice or criticism between couples, fighting between children and their parents, an indifference to affection, and ridiculous disputes. Sometimes there is intense arguing over how to discipline the children. Sometimes they even arrange their schedules so they don’t have to see one another.

 

Think about how your day went yesterday with your family. Could it have been summed up in the word chaos or comfort? Did you pillow your head last night looking forward to another day spent with your family? Or were you dreading waking up for fear of what new argument would take place?

 

This is no way for a Christian to live! How can we see spiritual victories when our family life is a war-zone? God intended for the family to be a place of nurture and growth for the Christian. That is why He described Himself as our Heavenly Father. We are supposed to be one close family that relies upon Him for sustenance.

 

Take a battery test and see how strong your home is today. Do you love coming home at night or do you dread it? Do you love spending time with your family or do you try to get out of the house? Do you have a Duracell family or do you have a dimming family? Ask God to help change your marriage and your home into one of rest and relaxation.

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1

Your Daily Devotional for August 23, 2006

 

August 23, 2006

 

By Prayer and Fasting

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”

 

Mark 9:26-29

 

As we come to the Word of God today, Jesus is revealing the power that comes by fasting. It says in verse 29 in the previously viewed passage, “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” Jesus was emphasizing that many things cannot be accomplished without the use of prayer and fasting. Fasting, unfortunately, is a forgotten act in Christian living today. I fear that the spiritual vitality that comes with fasting is also lost.

 

Fasting is denying the physical pleasures of this life in order to get the spiritual growth and closer relationship with Christ we need. It’s not only the willingness to rid yourself of a physical pleasure such as eating, TV perhaps, or the radio, but also to deny yourself of the weights of this world in order to seek higher ground. It is a focused attempt at seeking God’s face.

 

God commands fasting! Fasting is relevant today, as Jesus spoke in Mark 2:20 that “…when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.” Jesus does not walk among us anymore, as the days of old. We must seek His power through the biblical command of fasting. This is not a suggestion, but a command.

 

Fasting is mentioned more than 80 times in the Scriptures. A majority of those times, it was in prayer for a specific need. When an Old Testament prophet craved the repentance of God’s people, he would proclaim a fast. When the apostles needed wisdom concerning a certain feature of their ministry, they would proclaim a fast. And when Christ was asked how He had the power to cast out the demons when the disciples could not, he could have answered them many things; instead, he said that it wasn’t possible except by prayer and fasting.

 

What about you? Do you have a special, pressing need in your heart today? Is there a sin that you cannot shake, a sorrow that you can’t seem to bear? Has there ever been a lost relative, friend, or co-worker that you cared about enough to miss a meal? Isn’t the difference between Heaven and Hell more important than lunch? Fasting is a necessary element in the life of any Christian who has a desire for a closer relationship with God.  So, try taking your burdens to the Lord in prayer and fasting, and see what He can do!

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1

Your Daily Devotional for August 22, 2006

 

August 22, 2006

 

Asking For Forgiveness

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

1 John 1:9

 

Why is it that asking for forgiveness is so hard? It is one of the most difficult things to do, yet it is probably one of the most common things we need to do. We have all found ourselves asking for forgiveness for something. You would think the more times we ask for forgiveness, the more comfortable it would be to forgive, but it’s not!

 

In our verse today, the word confess means “admitting oneself guilty by way of inward conviction.” The first step in asking for forgiveness is confessing that we did wrong. Often, people will ask for forgiveness but not really believe they were in the wrong. If there is no true repentance in our heart, then the “confession” is meaningless.

 

Also, the word faithful in this verse implies that “He is faithful to His own purpose to show not merely justice, but also mercy based upon His shed blood.” Think about that for a minute. God is faithful in that He will not punish us for sins that we have confessed to Him. What a great and merciful God we serve!

 

Have you ever said, “God, I know I did wrong but You didn’t come through for me so I had to do it.” Or maybe, “Well, God, they did this to me so I was just trying to show them that they were wrong.” Don’t bargain with God! We have nothing to bring to the bargaining table! If you find yourself making excuses or blaming other people while asking for forgiveness from God, then you are not truly sorry! True forgiveness only comes through a heart of repentance and remorse.

 

A man was awakened in the middle of the night by a phone call. On the other end a frantic, sobbing girl managed to get out the words, "Daddy, I'm pregnant." He was groggy and stunned but communicated his forgiveness and prayed with her. The next day he and his wife wrote their daughter two letters of counsel and love.

 

Three days later the man received another phone call. His daughter was shocked by the letters, because she was not the one who had called. Some other distraught girl had dialed a wrong number. Nonetheless, the letters were not wasted. Their expressions of unconditional love and forgiveness are now a treasured possession. Here are a few excerpts: "Though I weep inside, I can't condemn you, because I sin too. Your transgression is no worse than mine. It's just different. It all comes from the same sin package you inherited through us. We're praying much. We love you more than I can say. And respect you, too, as always. Remember, God's love is in even this, maybe especially in this. This is a day of testing, but hold our ground we must. God will give us the victory. We're looking forward to your being at home. Love, Dad."

 

Yes, asking forgiveness can be hard, but it is necessary! God asked forgiveness, in the moment of the most pain He endured, for the ones who were crucifying Him.  He also asked His Father for forgiveness for your sins when He died on the cross. Is it really that hard to ask for forgiveness realizing all that He has done for you?

 

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1

Your Daily Devotional for August 21, 2006

 

August 21, 2006

 

The Testimony of Samuel

By Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye have said unto me, and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand. And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.”

 

1 Samuel 12:1-5

 

In this passage, the Israelite nation has gathered at Gilgal to celebrate the anointing of their first king. Gilgal had been a place of spiritual renewal since the days of Joshua. As the people gathered together, the Lord began moving on Samuel’s heart to preach a message to these people.

 

We notice in verse three that his message was preached from a pure heart—“witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed.” Samuel had lived a blameless life before God. He had walked in integrity. 1 Thessalonians 2:10 says, “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.” There is a big difference between managers and leaders. Managers are people who do things right, leaders are people who do the right thing. Samuel was a true leader—he did that which was right before God and men.

 

Samuel’s message was also preached from past history. 1 Samuel 12:6-7 states, “And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.” Samuel was reminding the people that God had blessed them in the past, and that He still desired to bless them if they would fear, obey, and serve the Lord. In 1 Samuel 12:20 we read, “And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.”

 

This was a time of great change for the nation of Israel. We are also living in uncertain times today. Christians are changing, and many are choosing the path of least resistance for their lives and ministries. They are following the kingdoms of this world. May we determine to seek the Lord and His coming kingdom. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think if we will continue to serve Him in obedience with pure hearts.

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1

Your Daily Devotional for August 20, 2006

 

August 20, 2006

 

The Reality of God’s Power

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” 

 

Philippians 3:7-10

 

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan was at a rest home reading the Scriptures to some elderly folks. He came across the verse in the Great Commission, which states, “Lo, I am with you alway.” Dr. Morgan commented, “Isn’t that a great promise.” A little old lady spoke up, “No, it is a wonderful reality.”

 

Now friend, it is a great time in your life when the Bible becomes more than a bunch of verses. How special it is when you see the Bible as God’s love letter, and Jesus Christ’s presence in your life becomes a reality.

 

In this passage, we see the Apostle Paul’s desire to know God powerfully. During times of suffering and trial, he wanted to see God’s power at work in his own life. Verse eight says, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”

 

By studying the Bible, we realize that God’s power was demonstrated historically through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is what Paul was saying in Philippians, “that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

 

As Christians, we can experience God’s power in the present. Romans 6:11 says, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” When we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we experience His power not only in saving us, but also in helping us live for Him on a day-to-day basis.

 

Have you ever asked yourself, “How do people without the Lord ever make it in life?” As Christians, we realize there is no other way to endure hardships in our own power. Jesus said in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness...” Like Paul, may our response be during times of suffering and adversity, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1

Your Daily Devotional for August 18, 2006

 

August 18, 2006

 

We Need a Bath!

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

 

James 1:22-25

 

Once we are saved, we are cleansed and sanctified through Jesus’ blood. Although we are clean, we often sin and get “dirty.” Because of this, there is a need for daily sanctification, maintaining purity in the face of temptation that we face each day.

 

Ladies, have you ever gotten up in the morning and were in such a hurry that you forgot to do your hair or put your make up on? How embarrassing! How many of us have ever gone to the mirror willingly and saw that our hair was messed up and just went on with the day and did nothing about it? We wouldn’t dare! It is the same thing in our Christian life.

 

The end of verse 22 and verse 23 say, “…he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” Friend, if we knew that there was something wrong with our appearance, we would change it! So then why don’t we change our hearts when there is something wrong? Is it not as important because “no one can see it”?

 

Christian, God can see your heart! That is more important than any person seeing your outward appearance! Every day, we need to come to God’s Word and use it as our mirror. We need to take what we read and compare our lives with the truths of the Bible. His Word will show us what is wrong and what we need to change.

 

Once we see what is wrong, we need to change it! It is not enough to just know what is wrong, but we must get rid of the “dirt” in our lives. As Proverbs 4:23 puts it, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” The heart is the most important part of the body! If the heart goes astray, then the rest of our lives will follow it!

 

A young girl was out with some friends late one night when someone suggested they go to a questionable place. She told them that she’d better not go there. One of her friends then said, “Are you afraid your father might hurt you if you go?” She replied, “No, I’m not afraid my father will hurt me. I’m afraid I might hurt my father.”

 

Is there something in your life that is hurting your Father today? Do you have sin you are holding on to that has control of your heart? Why not take a look into the mirror of God’s Word and let Him change you? Take time today to get alone with God and His Word and let Him show you what needs to be cleaned out. Then, clean it out! Take action and do it. Come back into sweet fellowship with Him today.

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1